Electric steam iron



Feb. 8, 1955 E. P. SCHREYER ELECTRIC STEAM IRON 2 She ets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 19, 1950 ATTORNEYS Feb. 8, I955 E. P. SCHREYER 2,701,424

ELECTRIC STEAM IRON Filed Sept. 19, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent The present invention is concerned with electric steam irons of the boiler type.

2,701,424 Patented Feb. 8, 1955 in snug engagement with the upper faces of the ridges 15, is spaced as at 18 from the rising lateral walls of the ridges in order to allow for relative expansion and contraction between the diverse metals of sole plate and boiler without such strain as might tend to break the welded seam about the floor of the boiler. As shown the sole plate may present a peripheral groove 19 into which depends downturned peripheral edge of the boiler that rests upon the ridges 15 and 16, the upstanding peripheral rim of the sole plate concealing the stitchwelding from view.

Preferably the sole plate presents a steam chamber 21 therein with small steam openings 22 through the bottom of the sole plate through which moisture reaches the surface to be ironed. Steam generated in the boiler reaches steam chamber 21 in the sole plate by way of a It is among the objects of the invention to provide an iron of the above type which admits of instant access to a capacious filling opening for convenient and speedy filling of the boiler, an operation which 1s safe even when the iron is filled hot, and dispenses with the need for removable parts such as filling plugs or for tools to loosen or tighten such plugs, or the exercise of substantial effort 'or the handling of hot parts of the iron and likewise dispenses with the need for a filling funnel or other auxiliary filling implement that is no part of the iron and which admits of instant re-sealing of the boiler after filling and of maintaining such re-seal even after the closure parts have worn, and yet effectively vents under steam pressure should the steam openings in the sole plate become clogged; all without undue cost or complications for materials or welding operations and which admits of ready replaceability of its more vulnerable ele ments.

In the accompanying drawings in which are shown one or more of various possible embodiments of the several features of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a view in longitudinal cross section of one embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view on a larger scale of the boiler closure and steam dome assembly,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the boiler closure suspension, and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1 of a modified embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, the electric steam iron shown in Fig. 1 includes a sole plate It that may be of cast aluminum alloy and has secured to its top a sheet metal boiler B which though desirably of stainless steel, may for reasons which appear more fully hereinafter be of sheet aluminum. An electric heater element is in heat conductive relation to both the sole plate and the boiler for performing the dual function of heating the ironing surface and generating steam within the boiler. The electric heater element 11 is of conventional sheathed type and comprises two connected legs 11 and 11 and is cast into the sole plate.

The boiler desirably consists of a floor plate 12 with its downturned rim 13 joined preferably by resistance stitch-welding to the encompassing rim of the boiler shell 14. Said floor plate rests on ridges 15 which rise from as integral parts of the sole plate and extend longitudinally along and near the border of said plate and are connected at their front ends by a transverse ridge 16 upon which also the boiler rests. Ridges 15 accommodate the legs 11 and 11 of the heater element and ridge 16 accommodates the connecting length 11 of the heater which as shown is U-shaped. The boiler floor plate is embossed as at 17 to extend between ridges 15 for enhanced water capacity of the boiler, the downturned rim defining the outer walls of longitudinal depressions in the bottom of the boiler floor plate which straddle the corresponding ridges of the sole plate in the assembled iron. In fact there is very little unused space between the sole plate with its ridges and the boiler floor plate with its ridge-conforming embossments.

Desirably the floor plate of the boiler, while resting passes the upper protruding end of the steam tube.

steam tube 23 which is desirably vertical and is affixed by nut 24 at itslower end to steam chamber cover plate 25 that in turn rests at its raised rim 25 upon a corresponding general triangular wall 25'" rising from the tip portion of the sole plate. Cover plate 2:5 is attached by screws 26 through bosses 26 rising from the sole plate and which support the central area of the cover plate 25'. The forward end of the boiler is superposed over cover plate 25 and is clamped thereagainst by means of a sleeve 27 encompassing and welded to the tube 23 and pressing floor plate 12 against the sole plate by the tightening of nut 24 upon the lower end of the steam tube. A washer 23 about tube 23 and interposed between cover plate 25 and boiler floor 12 maintains uniform spacing between said plate and floor without deformation of either plate or boiler floor due to the pressure of tightened nut 24-.

The steam enters steam tube 23 by way of steam dome 29 which rises from the top of the boiler and encom- A removable cap 23 in a corresponding port through the floor of the sole plate affords access both for original attachment and tightening of nut 24 and for cleaning out boiler scale.

Rearward of the boiler, a thermostat 30 is mounted in the sole plate, the setting of which is adjusted by a knob 31 protruding above a heel rest cover 32 removably afiixed as by screws s to the rear end of the sole plate The steam dome has an associated hand hold part, heat insulated therefrom and aflixed to the structure of the iron in order to permit ready displacement of said dome from normally locked or latched position, all without disassembly thereof from the iron in order to expose a capacious filling opening directly below said steam dome in the top of the boiler and to permit as ready return and re-locking or relatchlng for elfective seal of the filling opening.

The steam dome 29 which itself is of more or less conventional frusto-conical or thimble shape as shown, is held in fluid tight relation to the boiler by means of a gasket ring 33 interposed between the base of the steam dome and the periphery of the filling opening 34. In a preferred embodiment shown, the gasket ring 33 which is preferably of that silicone plastic which is identified by the trade-mark Silastic, is made unitary with the displaceable steam dome construction to afford a filling closure assembly. In one specific construction, the gasket ring 33 snugly encompasses or encircles the rim end of said dome and is pressed against the outturned rim 35 of said dome by a press fit or welded ring 36 about the steam dome and against the upper face of the gasket ring.

The hand hold for the filling dome assembly is suitably heat insulated from the hot steam dome, as for example by fashioning it of suitable heat insulating material. This hand hold is movably afiixed to the iron in such manner that by its opening movement it will displace the closure assembly from the filling opening and will clear the protruding end of the steam tube. Preferably, the gasket ring element is seated within and below the upper rim 37 of the filling opening, the wall of which opening is preferably turned inward and beveled at 38, so that the beveled outer rim of gasket ring 33 wedges against the encompassing or encircling conical wall for snug leak-tight fit and must be lifted out of the filling opening 34' for opening the same; For opening the boiler, the closure is preferably displaced through a substantial range in a single stroke away from the filling opening.

Preferably the hand hold affords a suspension mount for said closure assembly 29, 33 and resilient means, desirably a spring and preferably a coil spring 40 interposedbetween the closure and itshand hold resiliently presses the closure assembly to seating position in the filling opening with automatic compensation for wear of the gasket, and also permits slight lifting motion thereof for venting steam pressure, thus to protect the iron from explosion should the vent openings 22 become clogged.

In a preferred construction, the hand holdfor opening and re-seating the closure plug with its component steam dome is the main handle structure H of the iron which handle structure is suitably mounted for effecting the required movement of such closure assembly. For this purpose the handle H is preferably hinged, most desirably at its rear end as shown. The base 41 of a hinge bracket is desirably welded at the top of the boiler and from said base rise a pair of upstanding perforated hinge ears 42 through which extends a hinge pin 43', the ends of which are locked in suitable manner (not shown) in the side flanks of the desirably hollow-core handle H. That handle is preferably oblique as at 44 at its rear end, so that when hinged to full open position, it will rest upon the heel rest cover 32, and by virtue of its hollow construction will accommodate the protruding thermostat knob 31.

The filling closure assembly 29, 33 is accommodated within the cavity 45 in the front leg of the handle H and is mounted, preferably in suspended relation, from the handle so as to move therewith, by means of a suitable connection which accommodates the coil spring 40 that permits the wear accommodating and venting actions above referred to. In the specific embodiment shown, this connection comprises a carrier plate 46 of sheet metal attached as by screws 47 to the under face of the handle H and provided with an arm rising as at 48 within the cavity 45 with a horizontal cross plate 49 at its top to which the upper end of the steam dome is connected in manner to permit slight up and down movement thereof relative to the handle H. 'To this end a metal pin 50 with a head 51 welded to the steam dome rises therefrom with its shank extending through the plate 49 and its opposite head 52 well above the plate. Desirably the pin 50 is of flat sheet stock, as shown, and is conveniently introduced through a radial slot 53 in the cross plate 49, the heads of the pin being provided by short tongues bent outward in opposite direetions fromthe correspondingly longitudinally slotted ends of the sheet stock'of which the pin is fashioned.

The upper end of spring 40 is encompassed by the dished rim of the cross plate 49. Desirably a lug 45 molded as an integral part thereof, extends into the upper and forward part of the handlecavity 45, which lug presents a shoulder 45 against which the free edge of cross plate 49 is pressed by reaction of spring 40 and so is retained against yielding when the iron is in operative position, as shown in Fig. 1.

In closed position, the handle must of course be locked or latched to'the iron or boiler, not only in order to avoid looseness in ironing operation but also to assure an adequate leak tights'eal of the gasket'33 inthe filling opening. Such latch desirably 'compri'se's"an elongated latch head 54 accommodated in a correspondingly slo'tted latch'boss 55 welded in place within a correspondingly closed depression 56 in the top of the boiler; The head has an upstanding shank 57 accommodatedin a bushing 58 afiixed desirably in the rearwardly extending ledge 59 of the sheet metal carrier plate 46. The upper end of the shank 57 has a heat insulating thumb piece 69 aflixed thereon and a coil spring 61 about the shank interposed between the washer 62 and bushing 58 assures tight closure of the latch.

The heating element 11 being wholly rearward of steam chamber 21 of the sole plate, the steam evolved in said chamber will not be superheated and accordingly condenses promptly as it emerges from the steam holes 22 and gives visible indicationof the functioning of the iron. Should droplets" of water enter'or condense into the steam chamber 2-1,-'they will be promptly vaporized ill by flowing downward toward the contiguous transverse length 11 of theheater, whenthe iron is stood upon its heel between ironing operations.

The operation of the iron disclosed may be briefly summarized as follows: When it is desired to fill the boiler, the latch knob 60 is thumb-pressed to open position by the same hand which grasps the handle H of the iron and that handle is tilted upward until its rear end 44 rests upon the heel plate cover 32. By that action the filling closure assembly 29, 33 with its steam dome is bodily removed from and exposes the filling opening 34 at the front of the iron for convenient filling from a glass or cup. Even in rapid filling of the hot iron, the capacious filling opening 34 which may have a diameter of one inch will permit ready entry of the water to the boiler without flashback of steam, since the water will enter essentially at one side of the protruding steam tube 23 and any steam readily escapes from the other side without entraining any of the water being poured in. Water may be poured into the iron until its level is seen to have reached the metal washer 63 that is affixed at desired level upon the steam tube 23, and is exposed to view by omitting the metal wool w as at w from the region between wall 38 and washer 63 within the boiler.

After filling, the iron is re-closed instantly by full arm pressure on the handle H, in which the closure gasket 33 is pressed down against the resistance of spring 40, yieldingly to take the thrust by the reaction of spring 40 against cross plate 49 backed by shoulder and to effect snug wedge fit against the tapered wall 38 of the filling opening and the handle is latched to closed position by simple pressure of the thumb against thumb piece 60.

In use the gasket 33 affords a leak tight seal and prevents escape of steam or water thereabout, the steam passing through its desired course from the boiler into the steam dome 29 through the length of the steam tube 23 to the steam chamber 21 for emission through steam holes 22. Should the latter become clogged and steam pressure build up in the boiler, there is incurred no danger of explosion, for under such pressure the closure assembly 29, 33 will be lifted slightly against the resistance of spring 40 for venting of steam about gasket 33 and escape from under the lower edge of the handle H and the ledge 59, which diverts such venting steam so it cannot reach the hand of the user. After release of excess pressure, the spring 40 immediately reseats the closure.

Thus in the present construction, the operation of welding the rim of the steam dome to the corresponding opening in the top of the boiler is dispensed with, and yet no escape of water or steam occurs in use and the opening for the steam dome is used for boiler filling, that opening being instantly exposed by handling a cool part of the iron, preferably the handle and re-closure being just as convenient, preferably by the full arm mo tion exerted upon such handle.

In order to replace the gasket 33 when worn down substantially, the user may readily roll it off over the rim 35 of the steam dome and as conveniently pass a replacement washer over said rim. If replacement or adjustment is required at other parts of the filling closure, this may readily be effected by taking off the closure carrying sub-assembly upon simply removing screws 47 and screwing on a replacement sub-assembly.

By the arrangement described, the need'for leak-tight welding connections at the top of the boiler is dispensed with, since neither a steam dome nor a filling funnel is welded to such boiler top. The welding attachment of such steam dome or filling funnel would not only require bulky and costly welding equipment, but it would-also necessitate testing the seal to assure against leak before assembling the floor to the boiler shell, with the likelihood of irregularities or disfigurement entailed by a second welding operation in the repair of defects discovered by such test. The only welding operations at the top of the boiler with the present invention are for the connection of thehinge bracket 41 and the latchboss 55, and since these are mere attachments at imperforate parts of the boiler, they involve no leak-tightseal and are readily performed by use of relatively simple equipment.

The welding of the floor of the boilerinto the shell is a'simple stitch welding'operation and disfigurement is no factor since the welded joint is concealed by the upstanding rim of the sole plate.

By reason of the fact that no critical welding operations are required in the top of the boiler, the present invention does not for practical purposes necessitate the use of stainless steel sheet stock for fashioning the boiler, but the same may be made of sheet aluminum of the usual laminated type designed for welding purposes, which has a layer of sheet aluminum and a layer of Welding aluminum, a product of Aluminum Corporation of America, known as Alclad. Such laminated sheet effects a secure welding connection between the rim of the shell and the closely fitted rim of the floor plate by simple oven welding.

The embodiment of Fig. 6 resembles that of Figs. 1 to 5 so that detailed description is unnecessary and corresponding elements are designated by the reference numerals of Figs. 1 to 5 primed.

One difierence between the embodiments of Figs. 1 to 5 and 6 is that in the latter, the hollow handle instead of being of a unitary piece, is of two complementary full length valves Ha and Hb which present upright engaging faces 65 bordering the concavities 66 thereof, and are held together in a rigid assembly by transverse screws 67 through corresponding apertures in solid parts of the handle halves. By this arrangement the mount for the displaceable closure assembly is simplified. As shown, it need be and is simply a disc 68 generally similar in form to the mount shown in Fig. 5. This disc is retained within the cavity 45' determined at the front of the handle by the two complementary handle halves and held at its protruding edge 69 in corresponding grooves 70 fashioned in said handle halves.

Another difference is that while the handle of Fig. 1 has no base plate (other than that afforded by sheet metal carrier ledge 59), that of the embodiment of Fig. 6 is formed with a unitary base 71 that may extend over nearly the entire top area of the boiler and serves as a Shield, the latch coil spring 61' being disposed in a depression 72 in the under face of said shield. Another dilference is that the thumb piece 60' is arranged to extend forward as shown in latched position and its free end is restrained by engagement thereover of a lip 73 integral with each of the halves of the handle structure.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope of the claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention. what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An electric steam iron of the type comprising a sole plate, a boiler affixed thereon, and having a filling opening therein, a steam tube rising from said sole plate through the height of said boiler and protruding thereabove, and a steam dome encompassing the protruding end of said steam tube and rising from said boiler; the combination in which gasket material intervening between the steam dome and the boiler constitutes a seat for the steam dome about said filling opening, and hand-operated means movably afiixed to the steam iron carries the steam dome and afiords a heat insulated hand hold which serves for displacement of said steam dome with respect to said filling opening for facility of charging the boiler, and in which said hand operated means has a leg which encircles the steam dome to protect the operator from blow-01f of steam about the steam dome.

2. An electric steam iron of the type comprising a sole plate, a boiler afiixed thereon and having a filling opening in the upper part thereof, electric heating means in heat conductive relation with both the sole plate and the boiler, a steam tube rising from the sole plate and protruding above the boiler and a steam dome rising from the top of the boiler and encompassing the upper end of the steam tube; the combination in which the steam dome carries a gasket ring snugly encircling the lower end thereof, and in turn encircled by the wall of the filling opening and means movably affixed to the steam iron, carries the steam dome and afiords a hand-hold cooler than the steam dome for convenience in displacing the latter for filling the hot iron, and means for releasably latching the steam dome carrier against displacement, for leak tight seal of the gasket ring about the filling opening.

3. An electric steam iron of the type comprising a sole plate, a boiler afiixed thereon and having a filling opening in the upper part thereof, electric heating means in heat conductive relation with both the sole plate and the boiler, a steam tube rising from the sole plate and protruding above the boiler and a steam dome rising from the top of the boiler and encompassing the upper end of the steam tube; the combination in which the steam dome has a gasket ring affixed about its rim, means movably aflixed to the steam iron, carrying the steam dome and affording a heat-insulated hand hold for moving said dome with its gasket when the iron is hot, in a predetermined path with respect to said boiler to permit filling of the latter through said opening, in which said opening affords an inturned wall encircling the gasket ring, and means releasably to latch said hand operated means in boiler closing position with the gasket ring in leak tight relation within said inturned wall of the filling opening.

4. An electric steam iron of the type comprising a sole plate, a boiler affixed thereon and having a filling opening in the upper part thereof, electric heating means in heat conductive relation with both the sole plate and the boiler, a steam tube rising from the sole plate and protruding above the boiler and a steam dome rising from the top of the boiler and encompassing the upper end of the steam tube; the combination in which the steam dome has a gasket ring afiixed about its rim, said ring having a beveled outer rim, a steam dome carrier afiixed on the iron structure and movable relative thereto and having a hand hold in heat insulated relation to the steam dome for manual displacement of the steam dome and its gasket from said opening to permit filling of the hot boiler therethrough, said filling opening having an inturned inwardly beveled wall serving as a seat to accommodate the beveled outer rim of the gasket ring, and means releasably to latch said steam dome carrier for maintaining the steam dome in sealing position with respect to the boiler.

5. An electric steam iron of the type comprising a sole plate, a boiler affixed thereon and having a filling opening in the upper part thereof, electric heating means in heat conductive relation With both the sole plate and the boiler, a steam tube rising from the sole plate and protruding above the boiler and a steam dome rising from the top of the boiler and encompassing the upper end of the steam tube; the combination in which the steam dome has a gasket ring amxed about its rim, a steam dome carrier movably afiixed to the iron structure, said steam dome carrier having a hand hold in heat-insulated relation to the steam dome for manually displacing the steam dome and gasket ring assembly from said opening to permit filling of the hot boiler therethrough, means releasably to latch said steam dome carrier for maintaining a leak tight seal of said gasket ring about said filling opening, and resilient means interposed between said carrier and said steam dome and gasket ring assembly to permit venting rise of said assembly under excess steam pressure.

6. The combination recited in claim 5 in which the resilient means is a coil spring encompassing the steam dome and exerts pressure at one end against the gasket ring and at the other against said carrier.

7. An electric steam iron of the type comprising a sole plate, a boiler mounted thereon and having a filling opening in the upper part thereof, an electric heater in heat conductive relation to both the sole plate and the boiler, a steam tube rising from said sole plate near the forward end thereof and protruding above the top of said boiler, a steam dome rising from the top of said boiler and encompassing the protruding end of said steam tube and a handle mounted on the iron structure and having a hollow front portion accommodating said steam dome; the combination in which the handle is movably affixed to the body of the iron and carries the steam dome, in which a gasket ring is provided concentric with said opening and with the steam dome and in which releasable latch means retains the handle in operative position with the gasket material interposed in sealing relation between the filling opening and the steam dome.

8. The combination recited in claim 7 in which the steam dome is displaceably mounted on the handle, the gasket ring is mounted upon the rim end of the steam dome and a coil spring encompasses the steam dome and is interposed between said gasket ring and the handle to permit'displacernent of said dome and gasket assembly for venting under excess steam pressure.

9. An electric steam iron of the type that comprises a sole plate, a boiler mounted thereon and having a filling opening in. the upper part thereof, an electric heating element in heat conductive relation to both the sole plate and the boiler, a steam tube rising'frorn near the forward end of said sole plate and protruding above the top of the boiler, a steam dome rising from the boiler and encompassing the protruding end of the steam tube, a handle hinged to near the rear of the iron structure to permit movement of the forward end of said handle away-from said boiler, said handle having a cavity in its forward end for accommodating the steam dome, and meansfor releasably latching the handle in closed position; the combination in which the handle carries the steam dome in depending relation to the handle within said cavity thereof, in which a ring of gasket material encompasses the rim end of said steam dome and said dome and gasket ring constitute a filling closure assembly, and when the handle is latched in operative position, said gasket applies a leak tight seal about said filling opening.

10. The combination recited in claim 9 in which the handle is of molded material and has aflixed thereto a sheet'metal carrier plate extending into said cavity thereof upon which carrier plate the filling closure assembly is mounted.

11. The combination recited in claim 10 in which the steam dome has an upstanding heated pin mounted in a transverse slot in said carrier plate and a coil spring is interposed between the filling closure assembly and said late. p 12. The combination recited in claim 9 in which the filling opening has an inwardly beveled peripheral wall for wedging fit therein of the gasket element of the filling closure assembly when the handle is latched in opperative position and inwhich a coil spring interposed between the filling closure assembly and the handle affords automatic follower action for effective seal of a worn gasket ring and affords resilient venting release of excess steam'pressure,

13. The combination recited in claim 9 in which the steam dome carrier element is a sheet metal plate extending transversely within the cavity in the forward end of the handle and the filling closure assembly has a pin rising from the top thereof extending slidably through said carrier element and has a head thereabove, and a spring is interposed between said carrier plate and the closure assembly yieldingly to resist opening of the latter for venting under excess steam pressure.

14. The combination recited in claim 9 in which the carrier element is a sheet metal structure affixed to the under face of the handle near the cavity thereof and extends upward within said cavity, thence transversely thereof and in which a pin having a shank protruding above the upper end of the steam dome is slidably mounted in a slot in said transverse carrier portion, said pin having a head above said carrier portion.

15. The combination recited in claim 9 in which the carrier-is a sheet metal plate affixed at its mid portion to the under face of the handle near the cavity thereof and has a forwardly extending portion within said cavity including a'portion transversely of said handle from which said steam dome depends, the rearwardly extending portion of said plate serving as the mount for said latch;

16. The combination recited in claim 9 in 'which the handle is of two complementary hollow halves engaged at the mid section of the entire length of the handle to determine the cavity and the carrier element for the closure is a plate of width greater than the corresponding cavity portion and is accommodated at its edge in corresponding grooves in said handle portion.

17. The combination recited in claim 16 in which each handle half has a base plate integral therewith and in which the releasable latch is mounted on said base plate.

18. An electric steam iron of the type that comprises a sole plate, a boiler mounted thereon and having a filling opening .in the upper part thereof, an electric heating element in heat conductive relation to both the sole plate and the boiler, a steam tube rising from near the forward end of said sole plate and protruding above the top of the boiler, a steam .dome rising from the boiler and encompassing the protruding endiof the steam tube, a handle hinged to near the rear of the iron structure to permit movement of the forward end of said handle awayfrom said boiler. said handle having a 'cavityin its forward end for accommodating the steam dome, and means for releasably latching the handle in closed position; the combination in which the handle carries the steam dome in depending relation to the handle within said cavity thereof, in which a ring of gasket. material encompasses the rim end of said steam dome and said dome and gasket ring constitute a filling closure assembly, and when the handle is latched in operative position, said gasket applies a leak tight seal about said filling opening, in which the handle is of two complementary hollow halves engaged at the mid section of the entire length or the handle to determine the cavity and the carrier element for the closure is a plate of width greater than the corresponding cavity portion and is accommodated at its edge in corresponding grooves in said handle portion, and in which each handle half has a base plate integral therewith and in which the releasable latch-is mounted on said base plate, said latch having a knob with an operating finger extending forward in latched position and in which the handle presents a unitary lug extending over the extremity of the closed latch finger.

19. In a steam iron, a sole plate having a steam outlet port in. its lower surface, a boiler mounted on the upper surface of the sole plate and having in its upper wall a filler opening, a steam discharge tube communicating in its lower end with said steam outlet port and extending upwardly through the boiler, the upper end of said tube projecting outwardly through said filler opening and terminating above the boiler, an arm above the boiler pivoted at one end to the boiler to swing up and down in an are relative to said boiler, a latch operable when the arm is in its lowermost position to releasably secure the non-pivoted end of the arm against upward movement away from the boiler, the non-pivoted portion of said arm being disposed over the filler opening when the arm is thus latcheddown, andan inverted cup-shaped member carried by said portion of the arm, said member constructed and arranged sov that it encloses the projecting upper end of said tube and has its lower rim in sealing engagement with the boiler around the margin of said opening when said arm is latched down, thereby to close said opening and provide an enclosed steam passafieway from the boiler to the upper end of the discharge tu e.

20. In a steam iron, a sole plate having a steam outlet port in its lower surface, a boiler mounted on the upper surface of the sole plate and having in its upper wall a filler opening, a steam discharge tube communicating at its lower end with said steam outlet port and extending upwardly through said boiler, the upper end of the tube projecting outwardly through said filler opening and terminating above the boiler, a handle including a hollow post normally juxtaposed over said opening with its lower end in fixed vertically spaced relation thereto, an inverted cup-shaped member having its upper end within said hollow post and covering the upper end of said tube, spring means between the post and said member urging the latter downwardly so its lower rim projects below the post and seats on said boiler around the margin of the filler opening thereby to seal the opening, a latch releasably securing the post in said normal position, said post being displaceable upwardly upon release of the latch, and alost motion connection between saidpost and said'member whereby said member is displaced upwardly by saidpost after a predetermined upward displacement of the latter, thereby to uncover said filler open ing andthe upper end of said tube.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED 'STATES PATENTS 2,027,767 Deems Jan. 14, 1936 2,179,259 Jones Nov. 7, 1939 2,279,215 Theilgaard Apr. 7, 1942 2,328,124 Bremer Aug. 31, 1943 2,475,572 Schreyer July 5, 1949 2,485,664 Scott Oct; 25, '1949 2,520,360 Clark Aug. 29, 1950 2,659,989 Cone Nov. 24, 1953 

